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Arrechea, J., Delhom, A., & Jimenez-Cano, A. (2021). Inconsistencies in four-dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity. Chin. Phys. C, 45(1), 013107–8pp.
Abstract: We attempt to clarify several aspects concerning the recently presented four-dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity. We argue that the limiting procedure outlined in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 081301 (2020)] generally involves ill-defined terms in the four dimensional field equations. Potential ways to circumvent this issue are discussed, alongside remarks regarding specific solutions of the theory. We prove that, although linear perturbations are well behaved around maximally symmetric backgrounds, the equations for second-order perturbations are ill-defined even around a Minkowskian background. Additionally, we perform a detailed analysis of the spherically symmetric solutions and find that the central curvature singularity can be reached within a finite proper time.
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Bejarano, C., Delhom, A., Jimenez-Cano, A., Olmo, G. J., & Rubiera-Garcia, D. (2020). Geometric inequivalence of metric and Palatini formulations of General Relativity. Phys. Lett. B, 802, 135275–4pp.
Abstract: Projective invariance is a symmetry of the Palatini version of General Relativity which is not present in the metric formulation. The fact that the Riemann tensor changes nontrivially under projective transformations implies that, unlike in the usual metric approach, in the Palatini formulation this tensor is subject to a gauge freedom, which allows some ambiguities even in its scalar contractions. In this sense, we show that for the Schwarzschild solution there exists a projective gauge in which the (affine) Kretschmann scalar, K (R beta μnu R alpha beta μnu)-R-alpha, can be set to vanish everywhere. This puts forward that the divergence of curvature scalars may, in some cases, be avoided by a gauge transformation of the connection.
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Beltran Jimenez, J., & Delhom, A. (2019). Ghosts in metric-affine higher order curvature gravity. Eur. Phys. J. C, 79(8), 656–7pp.
Abstract: We disprove the widespread belief that higher order curvature theories of gravity in the metric-affine formalism are generally ghost-free. This is clarified by considering a sub-class of theories constructed only with the Ricci tensor and showing that the non-projectively invariant sector propagates ghost-like degrees of freedom. We also explain how these pathologies can be avoided either by imposing a projective symmetry or additional constraints in the gravity sector. Our results put forward that higher order curvature gravity theories generally remain pathological in the metric-affine (and hybrid) formalisms and highlight the key importance of the projective symmetry and/or additional constraints for their physical viability and, by extension, of general metric-affine theories.
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Beltran Jimenez, J., Delhom, A., Olmo, G. J., & Orazi, E. (2021). Born-Infeld gravity: Constraints from light-by-light scattering and an effective field theory perspective. Phys. Lett. B, 820, 136479–6pp.
Abstract: By using a novel technique that establishes a correspondence between general relativity and metric-affine theories based on the Ricci tensor, we are able to set stringent constraints on the free parameter of Born-Infeld gravity from the ones recently obtained for Born-Infeld electrodynamics by using light-by light scattering data from ATLAS. We also discuss how these gravity theories plus matter fit within an effective field theory framework.
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Beltran Jimenez, J., & Delhom, A. (2020). Instabilities in metric-affine theories of gravity with higher order curvature terms. Eur. Phys. J. C, 80(6), 585–27pp.
Abstract: We discuss the presence of ghostly instabilities for metric-affine theories constructed with higher order curvature terms. We mainly focus on theories containing only the Ricci tensor and show the crucial role played by the projective symmetry. The pathological modes arise from the absence of a pure kinetic term for the projective mode and the non-minimal coupling of a 2-form field contained in the connection, and which can be related to the antisymmetric part of the metric in non-symmetric gravity theories. The couplings to matter are considered at length and cannot be used to render the theories stable. We discuss different procedures to avoid the ghosts by adding additional constraints. We finally argue how these pathologies are expected to be present in general metric-affine theories unless much care is taken in their construction.
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